Definition

Noun: - A building or establishment where prostitution is practiced; a brothel. This term is a euphemism, using formal or old-fashioned language to refer to a place considered disreputable or immoral.

Usage

This noun phrase is used as a singular, countable noun. It is a formal and somewhat archaic euphemism. When using it, you are referring to the physical location (the house/building) itself. - It typically functions as the subject or object of a sentence. - Example: The authorities raided the alleged house of ill repute.

Examples

• The novel's protagonist wandered into a shadowy house of ill repute.
• In the 19th century, that street was known for its houses of ill repute.
• The scandal involved a politician visiting a house of ill repute.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used in historical, literary, or legal contexts to avoid more direct or vulgar terms.
• It can carry connotations of secrecy, vice, and social condemnation.

Variants and Related Words

• Brothel (n): The direct and more common synonym for a house of prostitution.
• Bordello (n): Another term for a brothel, often with a slightly more specific or historical flavor.
• Whorehouse (n): A blunt and vulgar term for the same establishment.
• Cathouse (n): A slang term for a brothel.

Synonyms

• Brothel
• Bordello
• Bawdy house
• Sporting house (archaic)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Den of iniquity: A phrase describing a place where immoral activities happen. While broader than "house of ill repute," it can be used in similar contexts.
  • The preacher condemned the city's taverns as dens of iniquity.

Noun

1. a building where prostitutes are available